The editor provided representatives from the 16 largest denominations in the United States who are joined by agnostics, scientists, and the "Unchurched"

Part II: Almanac

Statistics, public opinion polls, basic documents, sociological résumés, and psychological analyses of the role, conflicts, influence and trends which characterize US religion along with material from the editor himself.

The book has been released in various editions since the 1950s; first copyright is 1952. The reader is able to learn directly from key leaders of various religious groups what is and is not a part of their faith. The questions cover a broad-spectrum of faith and include such touchstone issues as the religions views on abortion, divorce, ecumenism, homosexuality, ordination of women as ministers, and views of race.